Interiors

How to Tape a Knee Wall

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A.Myron Ferguson, a drywall contractor in Broadalbin, N.Y., and the author of Drywall: Professional Techniques for Walls and Ceilings, responds: I'm not a framer, but the first thing I look at when I'm hanging drywall in these very conspicuous corners is the framing. If it's off, I first do a little shimming or floating over high spots along the edge. After hanging the drywall, it's sometimes necessary to prefill low areas with joint compound so that the seam is reasonably straight.

To tape the joint, I like to use a continuous piece of 31/2- to 4-inch-wide paper tape, since I may have to conceal some gaps in the drywall and adjust the tape to get a straight line. Because I apply compound to both edges simultaneously, I like to work with a helper on longer walls, so that the compound doesn't start to dry before the tape is...